Thanks to Carla at blkkhand for the striking tintype portrait. This is my face.
Double Star
I've always joked that Robert Heinlein was better at writing the first half of a science fiction novel than just about anyone. Usually the second half is where he would abondon the high adventure space thriller in favor of his peculiar grand narrative.
Double Star, is just that first half. This breezy 250 page narrative about an out-of-work actor who plays a double for a kidnapped intergalactic politician won Heinlein his first Hugo award.
Concept Art
If you see a bus covered with a plaid design at the State Fair this year—it started out looking like this.
Isle of Dogs
Wes Anderson's 9th film. His 8th collaboration with Bill Murray. The second stop-motion animation film he's directed. The first time I've seen a dog cry tears like a person.
Autoptic Spring Showcase
The Office
Finally, I got around to seeing The (US) Office. The trick, I guess, was finding the time for all 9 seasons. Like a great sitcom, it applies the comic-strip "variations on a theme" to perfection. Doesn't hurt that Steve Carrell is reliably goofy.
A Pattern Language
Ever wonder how to build a city? Or a town? A Pattern Language written by Christopher Alexander and Murray Silverstein shows a way. Apparently this tome also influenced early computer programing. I found the book a useful guide to arranging an efficient office space.
Autoptic April Showcase
Comics reading! Comics reading!
Madeline McGrane | Brando Hughes | Cole HW
April 13th • Doors @ 7:00 PM
It's going to be at the new Beyond Repair + Uncivilized Book space: Assembly
Techovation Award
The above, from the 2017 archives, is a fun example of how illustration and comics can be utilized in a promotional campaign. Abe Studios needed a single graphic to explain the complex process of applying for the Techovation Awards. The awards were so successful, they continued to use the art again this year.
Autoptic Applications Are Open!
Minneapolis’s Premier Comic and Independent Print Festival
Sunday, August 19th, 2018
11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The Shape Of Water
The big winner at the academy awards this year was Guillermo del Toro's The Shape Of Water. While I'm not normally a big fan of storybook horror, it's easy to enjoy this film. The best description I've heard of the of the plot describes it as an "R rated Splash, with a woman in the Tom Hanks roll."
It's also one of the few movies I can think of with an illustrator as the main character. I'm a sucker for a B-plot about 1960's practical illustration techniques.
The Job of The Wasp
The Job of The Wasp is the third novel I'd read by Colin Winnette. This most recent book, published by Soft Skull Press, is from the perspective of a boy who finds himself in an orphanage and then a swarm of murderous insanity. The boy is not exactly innocent, but parsing out his(?) culpability is half the fun.
The obvious comparison would be to Lord of The Flies. But with lots of dead bodies.
I, Tonya
I was 13 years old when Tonya Harding made figure skating dangerous.
Read MoreHoly Hannah: Chapter 6
Don't Forget About Graphic Novels
In 2016, my graphic novel, Trying Not To Notice, was released by 2dCloud. You can still order a copy from them.
Read MoreSocial Media House
The above is an illustration I created for Foote-Print Marketing. It's used to help clients think of their social media strategy as an integrated whole.
Read MoreBrigsby Bear
Brigsby Bear (2017) is written and directed by Dave Mcary, who spent the last six years as a writer for Saturday Night Live.
What can I say about the plot of this movie? Not much without revealing some of the more surprising and dark plot twists. Ostensibly, it's about a man with a seemingly unhealthy obsession with a children's TV show. It reminded me of a mix between Death to Smoochy and Be Kind Rewind.
Also, you get to see Mark Hamill utilize his voice acting chops.
Autoptic Festival
Autoptic, Minneapolis' Premier Comic and Independent Print Festival, is returning August 19th 2018.
Are you a cartoonist or print artist? Do you plan on debuting a book or project this summer? Then join the party: The Exhibitor Application is live and takes less than a minute to complete.
Expect more updates and events over the next few months.
Absolutely on Music
"Absolutely on Music: Conversations with Seiji Ozawa." by Haruki Murakami is a transcription of conversations Murakami had with Ozawa while the Japanese conductor recovered from an illness.
Having read, and enjoyed previous Murakami novels, I was curious how he would handle non-fiction. I had no idea reading about classical music would be so interesting. As a bonus, I came across an uncorrected proof of the book, and would punch the air each time I caught a typo.
I like it when novels recommend you read another novel. Listening to these two men dissect the finer qualities of classical music inspired me to listen to Gustav Mahler's 5th symphony. Parts of it sounded like Star Wars.
Also, there is a section in the book where Murakami describes his extended visit to the music camp that Ozawa started. It's equal parts: school for up and coming musicians / second chance for accomplished amateurs.
In both cases, all involved were honored to have the unique privileged to perform with a symphony.
Buy the real, corrected copy at Powell's.
Holy Hannah: Chapter Five
Read the full 5th chapter of Holy Hannah.
If you haven't read any of the chapters yet, this is a great place to start!